Cristiano Ronaldo's foreign Al-Nassr teammate set to be left out of XI for upcoming SPL clash against Al-Fateh: Reports

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are set to be without goalkeeper Bento for their Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Fateh this weekend, as per reports. The Brazil international has been in and out of the squad under coach Jorge Jesus, and appears set to be excluded from the Matchday roster this week.

A report from a club source on X has revealed that Jesus has decided to overlook Bento for the visit of Al-Fateh to Al-Awwal Park. The former Atletico Paranaense goalkeeper will be a spectator while his teammates take on the minnows, who are languishing in 16th place in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Fateh have picked up just one point and are in the relegation zone, while Cristiano Ronaldo has led Al-Nassr to the top of the standings with 12 points from four games.

Bento featured for Brazil in their impressive 5-0 win over South Korea in their international friendly on October 10th, keeping a clean sheet and helping his side secure the win. The 26-year-old was rested for the second friendly against Japan, with Hugo Souza featuring for the Selecao while he watched on from the bench.

Croistiano Ronaldo's side have mostly deployed Bento as their cup competition goalkeeper this season, judging by his single league appearance. He has made five more appearances in cup competitions, including the Saudi Super Cup played earlier this season.

Jorge Jesus has used all three of his senior goalkeepers this season, with Raghed Najjar featuring twice in the league and Nawaf Al-Aqidi also making an appearance. One of the duo will likely start against Al-Fateh on Saturday, October 18th, while the other will start from the bench in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr set to be without forward for Al-Fateh clash: Reports

Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate Wesley is set to miss out on the Al-Nassr squad for their league meeting with Al-Fateh on Saturday, as per reports. The Brazilian youngster is one of those to have been overlooked by head coach Jesus for the home game.

A club source on X has named the 20-year-old as having been dropped for the game against Al-Fateh just over two weeks after he was on international duty. He played for the Brazil U-20 team at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing in all three group games as they finished bottom of Group C.

Winger Wesley has yet to feature in the Saudi Pro League this season, with all four of his appearances coming in cup competitions. The former Corinthians man has scored two goals for Al-Nassr this season despite starting only twice in Cristiano Ronaldo's absence.

About the author

Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

Know More

Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen